Liverpool join race to sign Palace star Marc Guehi to replace defender

Liverpool are showing an interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as it appears his England team-mate Jarell Quansah is heading for the Anfield exit door.

Quansah, who broke through in Jurgen Klopp’s final season but struggled to back it up in the following campaign, is high on Bayer Leverkusen’s shopping list to replace the outgoing Jonathan Tah.

Tah joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer and the German side are keen on Quansah. They hold good relations with Liverpool and the English champions unofficially owe them a favour after signing both Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz this summer.

Guehi is one contender Liverpool could sign to replace him and the England star is heading into his last year under contract at Selhurst Park. Last season, the Eagles were after as much as £65million to sell their captain as Newcastle had a number of bids turned down.

Their bargaining power is somewhat weaker now but he would still command a fair fee, and they are in talks to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande for as much as £40m — a player Liverpool have scouted in the past.

Jarrad Branthwaite has also been considered by the Anfield hierarchy but signing a player from city rivals Everton would be tricky.

The Reds want a defender with Ibrahima Konate’s future still not solved and the Frenchman is entering the final year of his Anfield deal, though the two parties are in talks over an extension with Real Madrid lurking in the background and keen on him.

Joe Gomez is also still at Liverpool and Arne Slot likes his leadership qualities though he missed a chunk of last season through injury. There was mass interest to sign him and he nearly departed last summer.

In both cases of Quansah and Gomez, Liverpool are not pushing them to the exit door.

Wirtz jetted into England on Thursday and will complete his medical tests on Friday ahead of being officially unveiled as a Liverpool player for a club-record £100m which could rise to £116m.

They have already signed his good mate Frimpong — the pair were on holiday together this week — for £29.5m and they are close to signing Hungary and Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez for around £40m.

Liverpool also want a striker if they can afford it. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is the dream though he would command an even bigger fee than what they are paying for Wirtz. Eintracht Frankfurt’s France striker Hugo Ekitike is another they like.

Andy Robertson is mulling over a potential move to Atletico Madrid. Sources in Spain say the capital club are confident but there is no done deal yet either at a personal or club-to-club level.

Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa are also likely to leave this summer. Harvey Elliott is set to have reduced game time with the arrival of Wirtz and could also be sold if a big offer comes in.